Artists of Note | Melissa Arthur - Southwest Art Magazine

Call of the wild

Melissa Arthur, Autumn Bells, acrylic, 12 x 16.

This story was featured in the September 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art September 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.

THE NATURAL world has always fascinated Melissa Arthur. It’s one reason she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology. After college she worked in a cancer-research lab, and on vacations, she volunteered with a variety of research projects, from studying humpback whales off the coast of Maui to scuba diving in the Virgin Islands, helping collect data on the fish population. So, as a full-time artist today, it’s no surprise that Arthur’s main muse is Mother Nature. More than simply conveying the beauty of nature, she says, “I’ve always been interested in exploring and understanding it.”

: Melissa Arthur, Crater Lake, acrylic, 16 x 20.

: Melissa Arthur, Lake Isabelle, acrylic, 16 x 20.

: Melissa Arthur, Winter Solace, acrylic, 16 x 20.

The Colorado artist is an avid traveler, but some of her favorite stomping grounds are close to home: Peruse her oeuvre of acrylics and oils and you’ll find many Rocky Mountain scenes, from the Maroon Bells to the Spanish Peaks. “Part of my process is just spending time outdoors; in my mind, hiking is research,” says Arthur. “At plein-air festivals, I try to arrive at least a day early, because I want to be out there walking around, just looking at the general harmony of colors.”

Whether working in her studio or en plein air, on the coast or in the mountains, Arthur seeks to capture the essence of the landscape through simplified shapes and pops of bold color. “I’m definitely aiming for a poem, not a novel,” she says of her style. “I want viewers to see my paintings and go, ‘Wow, I want to take a walk in nature tomorrow.’” —Kim Agricola

Arthur is represented by The Walnut Gallery, Longmont, CO.